A Canadian man and his Thai male accomplice have been arrested in a joint operation to crack down on a transnational drug trafficking ring that tried to smuggle heroin hidden in automobile shock absorbers into Australia, Niyom Termsrisuk secretary-general of the Office of Narcotics Control Board (ONCB), told a press conference in Bangkok on Sunday.

The suspects – Canadian national Stephens Blair, 38, and Thai man Pahol Siwasirikarun, 27 – were arrested along with 3,740 grams of heroin hidden in eight automobile shock absorbers, one kilogram of marijuana, two ecstasy pills and one gram of cocaine.

The authorities also seized assets worth Bt7.5 million from the suspects including Bt2.5 million cash, an E300 Coupe Mercedes Benz, a Toyota Camri sedan, a Z1000 Kawasaki motorcycle, an AP Royal Oak wristwatch and a Rolex Oyster S GMT wristwatch.